Rescued cats get free care

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Two organizations have pitched in to care for the dozens of cats rescued June 7 from inside a feces-littered house that authorities said had been condemned for human occupancy.

Applauding the work and donation of resources by Promise Animal League near Kearneysville, W.Va., and PIGS Animal Sanctuary outside of Shepherdstown, W.Va., Berkeley County Animal Control officer Donna J. McMahan told county commissioners on Thursday that the county has not had to pay "one red dime" for the felines' care.

In a letter to the Berkeley County Commission, McMahan said Star Sylvia of Promise Animal League and Melissa Susko of PIGS Animal Sanctuary treated all of the cats for ear mites and fleas, and vaccinated, wormed and checked all of them for feline leukemia and feline AIDS at no cost.

"Promise Animal League has supplied Animal Control with all food and cat litter needed to care for these cats," McMahan said in her letter. Nearly half of the cats will be kept at Animal Control facilities until June 29, McMahan said.

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McMahan also noted that a total of 50 cats were alive when seized from the home.

Officials previously had released a different number, and indicated that two had died at the home at 89 Stuckey Court.

Anthony P. Sine of Martinsburg has been charged with 49 counts of animal cruelty.

Each of the animal cruelty charges against Sine carries a possible fine of $300 to $2,000, and not more than six months in jail or both, according to court records.